Photo by The Dailly Star

At least 25 people have died and as many as 40 have been wounded in a suspected twin suicide attack in Lebanon’s capital Beirut, the Associated Press reports.

The explosion is believed to have taken place in a predominantly Shia neighbourhood Burj al-Barajneh, to the south of the city, a city official – speaking on condition of anonymity – said.

Witnesses said that there were only minutes between the two blasts.

According to Al Jazeera, security forces have urged residents in the area to stay away from the targeted sites.

Coffee shops and stores suffered extensive damage from the two blasts.

The area, located off a main highway leading to Beirut’s airport, is a well-known commercial and residential area in the capital’s southern suburbs.

Much of southern Beirut is a Hezbollah stronghold, which witnessed a string of deadly suicide explosions in 2014.